Crews discover sinkhole at sportsplex site

FLORENCE - Construction crews at the site of the nearly $11 million sportsplex in west Florence have discovered an SUV-sized sinkhole in a three-acre irrigation pond that cannot hold water, according to officials.

"They're going to have to fill the hole with rock, concrete and put a clay liner in it to hold water," said Tina Kitchens, parks director. "The situation will be resolved."

The project has already incurred more than a million dollars in unexpected costs from rock removal to waterwell digging, according to sportsplex architect Stanley Tomblin, of SKT Architects.

Tomblin said filling the hole will not incur more costs to the project.

"It will not cost any additional money above what's already approved (for the rock removal)," Tomblin said.

He said he is trying to finalize details about filling the sinkhole and hopes to have those details to the council in time for its work session today. Tomblin said filling the sinkhole should take about 10 days, depending on the weather.

The sportsplex will not be operational until 2009, according to officials.

The city decided to seed rather than sod the baseball and soccer fields, with a savings of $63,000, according to Kitchens. The city plans to spend about $22,000 to seed the fields, Kitchens said.

The grassy fields will need to grow a full season before being subjected to soccer and baseball cleats.

"To get a good stand of grass, you really need to get through a winter to establish a good root system," Kitchens said. "If we get on it too soon, we may have to redo it again."

Kitchens said that construction crews are working on the soccer and softball concession buildings.

The sportsplex has had a history of challenges beyond its years-long site selection. In 2007, $917,000 in unexpected rock removal delayed construction for 60 days beyond the nine-month contract. Plus, finding a source for the water system cost an additional $149,000, according to purchasing manager Phil Stevenson.

The original $1.3 million rock removal cost originally cited was an estimate, Stevenson said.

"We hope to be finished in 60 to 90 days if the weather continues; we're in good shape," Tomblin said.

The 186 acre sportsplex broke ground March 22 and was contracted for nine months of construction and received a 60-day extension.

The first phase of the sportsplex will include five baseball and four softball fields with concession stands, restrooms and press box; six soccer fields with concession stands and restrooms, a main entrance with gatehouse and two paved parking lots with 537 spaces.

Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.